Cutting down on tyres: Drivers critical of F1's decision to trial new qualifying format

Formula 1's plan to experiment with a new qualifying format has been met with scepticism from Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

The proposed changes aim to reduce the number of tyres used throughout the race weekend to promote sustainability. However, the drivers have expressed concerns about the impact the new format could have on the spectacle of the sport.

The first trial of the new format is set to take place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola in Italy in May. The changes will see the number of Pirelli tyre sets available to each driver reduced from 13 to 11.

Drivers will also be forced to use different tyre compounds during the qualifying sessions. In Q1, they will use hard tyres, medium in Q2, and soft in Q3. The tyre choice will be free if any of the three qualifying sessions are declared wet.

Tricky if cold

Verstappen expressed his reservations about the new format, particularly the difficulty of qualifying on the harder compounds in Q1.

He highlighted the potential issues with the slower warm-up of the harder tyres, especially in colder conditions.

"I hope it's not going to be cold in Imola, otherwise it's going to be quite tricky," Verstappen said.

"I don't really see the benefit of it. It's better if we make sure that all the cars are close to each other and more competitive instead of spicing things up in that way, which I think is probably for the show."

Perez echoed Verstappen's thoughts and stated that there was no need to change something that was already working well.

"I think we don't need that when you see the qualifying we had [in Bahrain], how close everything was," Perez said.

"But we'll see once we try it, and I don't think there's a need to change something that is working well."

Charles